Enactus prepares students through experience and competition

“We believe investing in students who take ENtrepreneurial ACTion for others creates a better world for US all” is the statement and abbreviation that Enactus aims to embody.

An internationally invested organization, Enactus is a student-led business group that aids in economic development throughout specific communities. Specifically through the AU chapter, those in the organization seek to create a partnership with local community entrepreneurs.

“AU Enactus is AU’s chapter of Enactus United States that is part of Enactus Worldwide,” said Dr. Hyeon Joon Shin, assistant professor of economics and secondary Enactus advisor. “Our main goal is to strengthen our local community, particularly, the city of Anderson and Madison County, and improve lives in the community by serving and partnering with local businesses and organizations.”

Working with many small companies in the Madison County area, the group assists with a variety of their operations in order to help local entrepreneurs, improving the county as a whole.

Throughout the fall semester, Enactus has different teams that students are part of that manage projects in order to see how much they can improve the businesses they are working with, helping local entrepreneurs understand their business, target audience and market.

Enactus members are able to learn the logistical side of what it takes to understand a business within tracking organizations and monitoring their progress.

At the end of the fall semester, Enactus collects the project statistics and data, and the vice president of competition writes a script of their findings to be presented at regional competition in the spring.

“Through Enactus Worldwide, approximately 72,000 students from more than 1,730 universities in 36 countries take their entrepreneurial actions to make the world better in cooperation with 550 corporate, organization and individual partners,” said Shin.

These universities come together to compete with other schools around the globe. Presenting their results, Enactus strives to have larger returns in business outcome compared to other universities. If they reach the national level, AU Enactus competes against notable schools presenting their work in front of a panel of Fortune 500 executive judges.

Last year, AU Enactus placed third in the opening round at national competition, putting them in the top 12 percent of teams in the nation.

Davis Peterson, a competition speaker for Enactus, said that competing this past year was an incredible experience.

“It built in me a lot of confidence in public speaking, and going to the competitions gave me a lot of vision and excitement for what Enactus could become at AU,” Peterson said. “Last year, we advanced to nationals, so I got to see some of the top schools in the country present. I now know what is possible through Enactus.”

All AU Enactus members can fulfill a liberal arts credit while having the opportunity to travel and interact with large companies.

“While running various community projects as extra-curricular activities, students obtain hands-on business experiences to develop stronger business and leadership skills,” said Shin. “Furthermore, the Enactus experience will boost a resume.”

Kyle May, an adjunct accounting professor and primary faculty advisor for Enactus, said that he is extremely excited for the growth of the program and is looking forward to the work that is to be accomplished within the community.

“I wish students understood the amount of impact they will have if they join Enactus,” said May. “It is a chance for students to learn by being in the community and really practicing the concepts they are learning in class.”

Steadfast in learning new ideas and applying their skillsets, Enactus brings together opportunity and achievability.

“AU students have been committed to their goal of helping local individuals and organizations so that each is empowered to live up to its fullest God-given potential,” said Shin. “The spirit of Enactus accords with the Biblical principles. God asks us to take care of our neighbors in need. There are many different ways to help people in desperate need. We, AU Enactus, strive to follow the command of God in a way that finds entrepreneurial solutions to making them better off.”

Students can get involved with Enactus by contacting Claire Miller at cemiller@anderson.edu.

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